China’s largest airport, the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) no longer requires travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test upon entry, Reuters has reported, citing Beijing News, owned by the Chinese Communist Party.
The entry requirement was dropped on December 6, 2022. No advice was given whether outbound passengers leaving PEK airport can also leave without a COVID-19 test result.
China has remained one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to entry requirements post-pandemic, with the country still operating a zero-COVID policy.
The 2022 IATA annual meeting in June 2022 was originally set to take place in Shanghai, but was moved to Qatar due to China’s strict policy.
The easing of Beijing’s entry requirement comes after citizens expressed discontent over China’s strict COVID-19 laws.
In November 2022, residents in the southern city of Guangzhou protested against the government after Chinese President Xi Jinping maintained that the country will stand by its zero-COVID policy.